In mid-November, Nike opened up a new flagship in NYC on Fifth Avenue and 52nd Street. The store is called “House of Innovation 000.” We stopped by to see what’s inside. Here’s what we found:It’s big. Too big? It is six-stories and 68,000 square feet big. It’s an investment in time just to see all six floors.

What led Camuto Group, the 17-year-old footwear design and production house, to divest itself in early November for $375 million to a consortium led by DSW and Authentic Brands Group? The answer is three-fold, according to DSW CFO Jared Poff. A failed entry into retail, a strategic error with a new distribution center and missed deliveries to key retail partners.

Textured leathers, cozy teddy-bear linings and lots of sparkle and shine are on tap at FFANY, going on this week in New York City. The FFANY Shoe Expo is taking place at Warwick Hotel and Academy Mansion, with FFANY Market Week also spreading out across brand showrooms throughout Manhattan.

Foot Locker’s go-forward strategy will be tied to more creative projects with key partners and smaller, secondary players such as Vans, K-Swiss, Fila, Puma and Reebok. Foot Locker reports that its focus on less promotional selling, and a beefed-up digital presence, is about “further strengthening its emotional connection with consumers.” Read the full story here.

Caleres, the Famous Footwear parent, which acquired Vionic for $360 million in mid-October, believes Vionic possesses significant growth potential in the premium comfort segment for men and women. Category growth, gender growth and channels of distribution were among the opportunities that Caleres CEO and President Diane Sullivan pointed to in a recent call with analysts regarding Vionic’s opportunities

A new Online Holiday Shoe Sales Survey, commissioned by the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America and conducted by the research center at Emerson College, finds that 31 percent of the U.S. adult population intends to purchase footwear online this holiday season with another 22 percent likely to buy new kicks online.

Altra has hired Todd Dalhausser as brand president, effective immediately. Dalhausser joins the VF Corp.-owned Altra from Wolverine World Wide, where he served as SVP of sales for Saucony North America. Previously, he managed Saucony/Hind’s apparel business, where he oversaw design, development and product merchandising.

3D is old news. Adidas is going 4D with the launch of its new Alphaedge 4D shoe, engineered with the Adidas 4D midsole, for “controlled energy return” and “breathable cushioning.” Adidas 4D is the brand’s “most ambitious midsole to date,” says Klaus Rolshoven, director of future design, at Adidas.

Brooks just closed a stellar third quarter, one that saw global revenues rise 29 percent, driven by a 32 percent increase in footwear. The Seattle-based company continued to thrive in the challenged U.S performance running market, notching double-digit revenue increases in the EMEA, Asia-Pacific and Latin America regions. But CEO Jim Weber is focusing squarely on the future. FIX caught up with Weber to talk tariffs, the retail marketplace and why performance wins.

With the Grassroots Connect show happening right now in Denver, and Outdoor Retailer’s inaugural November show set to kick off later this week, outdoor brands are pulling out the stops for Fall ’19 with fashion-forward, super-versatile product designed to fit seamlessly into the consumer’s day to day — and the good news is that these crossover-friendly looks couldn’t be more relevant for the footwear channel more broadly.

Aerosoles is collaborating with the Martha Stewart brand to create a line of fashionable, functional footwear inspired by Stewart’s “timeless style.” The first style to launch from Martha’s collaboration with Aerosoles is a collection of rain boots with an equestrian twist for Holiday 2018. The weather resistant boots are modeled after classic equestrian riding boots in knee-high, mid-rise, and ankle styles, and multiple colors including green, brown and black.

DSW’s decision last week to team with Authentic Brands Group (ABG), on the acquisition of the operations and intellectual property rights of the 17-year-old Camuto Group in a $375 million deal slated to close in Q4, is part of a broader strategy to expand its reach in footwear with both consumers and other retailers.

In the four years Footwear Insight has presented the Gold Medal Service Awards, only 13 retailers have made the cut every year. These service all-stars know exactly what it takes to delight the consumer, and even more importantly, how to keep doing it day after day and year after year. We asked our four-peaters — a selection of the best footwear independents and regional chains from across the United States — what it takes to thrive in today’s ultra-competitive environment, and here’s what they said.

Footwear Insight launched the Gold Medal Service Awards in 2015 in order to identify – and reward – the independent stores that elevate service to an art form. The good news is we found them, and they are thriving.

DSW’s decision last week to team with Authentic Brands Group (ABG), on the acquisition of the operations and intellectual property rights of the 17-year-old Camuto Group in a $375 million deal slated to close in Q4, is part of a broader strategy to expand its reach in footwear with both consumers and other retailers.